Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole has missed out on selection for the third and final Test between the British & Irish Lions and the All Blacks on Saturday.

And that means the 30-year-old has played his last game on the tour with the squad due to fly home after the hugely anticipated series decider in Auckland in Saturday.

Cole has played 14 times for the Lions and made three Test appearances on the last tour of Australia. But he has failed to break into the Test side on this trip with Ireland tight head Tadhg Furlong starting all three Tests and Harlequins’ Kyle Sinckler jumping over Cole on the bench.

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Those two men form part of an unchanged Lions team named by head coach Warren Gatland for Saturday’s clash at Eden Park.

Sam Warburton will again lead the 23 who secured victory in the 2 Test in Wellington - the first time since 1993 that the Lions have kept the same XV for consecutive Tests.

Gatland said of his decision to keep faith with that team: "It is not very often on a Lions Tour that you get to pick the same 23 for the following game.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has made three changes for the second Test

"We felt we should reward the players for the result and the courage that they showed in coming from behind from 18-9 down, digging themselves out of a hole and then finishing strongly in that last 10 to 15 minutes.

"There are some players who are pretty disappointed not to be selected and I understand that. It is what you would expect from competitive top athletes, they back themselves.

"But we have stressed all along that this is not all about the 23 players but about everyone in the squad - they have put their disappointment behind them and are helping the match day squad prepare the best they can for the Test match.

"We are all aware of how big this game is and we are expecting a backlash from the All Blacks. But the pleasing thing about the 2 Test is just how strong we were in the last 10 or 15 minutes, in terms of energy and enthusiasm so we still feel there is another level in us.

"This is a huge chance for this group of players to show their abilities and reap the benefits of the work everyone has put in. It is their chance to make Lions history."